{"id":141,"date":"2010-06-20T17:13:37","date_gmt":"2010-06-20T17:13:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jobshuk.com\/yoni67\/2010\/06\/20\/john-brown-american-hero-19th-century-radical-abolitionist-as-a-21st-century-business-model\/"},"modified":"2010-06-20T17:13:37","modified_gmt":"2010-06-20T17:13:37","slug":"john-brown-american-hero-19th-century-radical-abolitionist-as-a-21st-century-business-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jobshuk.com\/yoni67\/2010\/06\/20\/john-brown-american-hero-19th-century-radical-abolitionist-as-a-21st-century-business-model\/","title":{"rendered":"John Brown: American Hero & 19th Century Radical Abolitionist as a 21st Century Business-Model"},"content":{"rendered":"

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span> <\/span> <\/p>\n

John Brown: American Hero & 19th<\/sup> Century Radical Abolitionist as a 21st<\/sup> Century Business-Model<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

"…though a white gentleman, John Brown  <\/span>is in sympathy a black man, and as deeply interested in our cause, as though his own soul had been pierced with the iron of slavery." – <\/i>Frederick Douglass (freed slave, author, statesman, abolitionist) <\/i><\/font><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

In history lessons, film, non-fiction (John Brown: a Biography<\/em><\/strong> by W.E.B. DuBois; 1997, M.E. Sharpe Inc.) and in historical fiction such as the best-seller Cloudsplitter<\/em><\/strong> by Russell Banks (HarperPerennial, 1998), few historical figures have captured my attention, imagination and admiration more than John Brown. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

The following original business article tells the story of John Brown and builds a business-model based upon the principles embodied by this brave, iconic, incredible, historical figure:<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The Amazing Life of John Brown:<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 Early Years:<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Born in 1800 to deeply religious parents who were vehemently opposed to slavery, John Brown quickly developed strong abolitionist (movement to end slavery) feelings of his own.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown began his storied life in the northeastern United States where he worked as a farmer, merchant and tanner. All the while, he supported the anti-slavery movement with speeches, writings and with financial contributions. He knew in his heart however, that he had a "higher calling" and would need to take more drastic action to end the evil of slavery. While other northerners advocated peaceful means to end slavery, he knew that this approach would never work.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 Vow to End the Evil of Slavery By Any Means:<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In 1837, brown publicly proclaimed at an anti-slavery meeting: “Here, before God, in the presence of these witnesses, from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery!” <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

John Brown formed a league to protect blacks and freed-slaves and soon thereafter became a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, ferrying groups of slaves under armed guard through the legendary network of hideouts and safe-houses and eventually to freedom in the northern States. He knew, if caught, his penalty would be death. And if you were a slave-catcher, looking to collect a bounty on escaped slaves under Brown’s protection, not laying down your arms and walking away meant you paid with your life!<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

In 1850, Brown and five of his sons made their way to Kansas with the dream of turning the state into a sanctuary for settlers who shared abolitionist views. When those supporting slavery burned the community of Lawrence to the ground, Brown, his sons and a group of followers exacted their bloody<\/i> revenge. The name John Brown instantly instilled fear in the heart of the slavers. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

 Raid on the Federal Armory at Harpers Ferry and the End: <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

In 1856 Brown formulated and finalized his plans to free all Southern slaves through armed insurrection. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/span> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Based in Virginia now, Brown set out with a small army of 21 of his closest men, including free slaves; their target was the federal arsenal and armory at Harpers Ferry. His plan was to "liberate" the arsenal’s armory and arm slaves for the massive uprising and rebellion which lay ahead. He believed that hearing of the raid, thousands of abolitionists would show up to join the cause. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

After capturing several buildings within the armory, Brown and his small army were pinned down inside of the armory’s fire-house. In the storming of the building by local militia and federal troops, ten of Brown’s men were killed. He and six others were captured alive.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font> <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a sensational trial, Brown was convicted of treason. On December 2nd<\/sup>, 1859, he was hanged. Allowed to make a final speech, he uttered the following words: <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

. . . I believe to have interfered as I have done… in behalf of His despised poor, was not wrong, but right. Now, if it be deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children, and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I submit: so let it be done."<\/strong><\/span><\/i><\/font><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

Brown has been called by biographer Richard Owen Boyer "an American who gave his life that millions of other Americans might be free."<\/em><\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

.<\/span> <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

Principles of John Brown as a 21st<\/sup> Century Business-Model: <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

 1) Believe in What You Do! <\/span><\/b>Our lives’ works will probably pale in comparison to what John Brown did to end slavery. But, whatever we do, we should pour our heart and soul into it! Give maximum effort! See things through. Believe in yourself and in your vision. Don’t give up. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 2) Assess Your Morals, Ethics and Principles and Stand By Them! <\/span><\/b>In our businesses, we will probably not take on issues as large as those which John Brown faced down, but there will be challenges along the way. Job offers from companies whose products and services we don’t agree with? Clients whose practices we don’t deem fair or just? Decisions which cause inner conflict and turmoil? Business can demand soul-searching. Let your morals, ethics and principles be your guide! Do as and what you know to be just and right!<\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 3) Find a Cause (or Causes) to Champion! <\/span><\/b>The world is filled with those less fortunate. As businesspeople, we are often in a position to do good with what we have. It can be in the form of finding a charity and pledging donations. It can be in sponsoring those who need assistance. And it can be in pledging our time, resources and\/or expertise to help those whom we can! <\/strong>Whether a single-person entity or large corporation, <\/strong>with business and profit can come making the world a better place! <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 4) Distance yourself from your detractors!<\/span><\/b> I wish I had a dime for every person who probably said, "John, slavery is here to stay! What can one person do about it? Give up man!" We as businesspeople will meet our own detractors along the way. "The market’s too saturated!" "Businesses are failing!" "This is not the economic climate in which to start a business!" "You have no experience!" And remember, we are often our own detractors; detraction can manifest itself in the form of self-doubt. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 5) Surround Yourself with a Great Team! <\/span><\/b>Brown rode with his sons and a band of loyal followers and adherents. The fact that he managed to assist thousands of slaves in reaching freedom attests to the effectiveness of his team. In business, there is no substitute for a strong, finely meshed team with a common purpose, plan and goal. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 6) Become a Dynamic, Charismatic, Energetic and Effective Leader! <\/span><\/b>All organizations need a great leader. Hopefully your goal won’t be armed insurrection, but no matter. How do you go about becoming a leader? You lead your business. You lead your team. And…you lead the Web! Through blogging and through Social Media and Networking, people are looking for leaders. Network. Demonstrate your acumen and skills. Prove your expertise to others by dispensing knowledge, wisdom and experience. Give great tips and advice to others. When people see you as an expert you will establish a reputation. That reputation will bring those in need of the services you provide to your front door! <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 7) Sacrifice! <\/span><\/b>Most of us in business will never have to pay with our lives as John Brown did. But business demands sacrifice. Establishing a name and reputation can take years of blood, sweat and tears. It takes learning, formulating, re-learning, reformulating, overtime, advertising, marketing, networking and more. No one ever said it would be easy! <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

 8)<\/strong> Don’t Let Them Tell You "It’s Always Been Done Like This!"<\/strong> By the time Brown came on the scene, the horror and abject cruelty of slavery had already existed in America for well over two centuries. Brown knew that things could change. It took an incredible man to set that change in motion. He taught a nation to "think outside the box!" <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

John Brown being led to the gallows.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

.<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

May You, John Brown, Rest in Peace!<\/strong><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

*Final Note:<\/strong> Acclaimed director Quentin Tarantino has expressed interest in memorializing John Brown in an upcoming Hollywood motion picture. Tarantino calls Brown his "favorite historical figure…"<\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

. <\/font><\/p>\n

Image Credits: Black-White John Brown Image: Britannica.com; Colored John Brown Image: RustBeltRadical.com; #7: clipartnow.com; Gold Pocketwatch: justinbrw at flickr.com; John Brown led to gallows: executedtoday.com<\/font><\/p>\n